Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Health Care
CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President

This Labor Day, as Americans enjoy a day off from work, our country's 1.1 million National Guard and Reserve members will reflect on being "twice the citizen": an American who not only contributes to civilian society, but also serves our nation.

No longer "weekend warriors," National Guard and Reserve members increasingly face more activity due to catastrophic natural disasters, border control and the escalating war on terrorism at home and abroad. From Afghanistan to Djibouti, from Maine to Hawaii, these Americans must leave their civilian lives to serve our country during active duty.

With the National Guard and Reserve accounting for nearly half of our total armed forces — approximately 100,000 of those individuals are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan — their civilian employers can greatly influence their deployment-related stress.

Rather than provide only what the law requires, many of the nation's employers are providing full benefits for extended periods during mobilization. Supportive employers also pay the difference between civilian and military salaries and provide a support network for employees' spouses and families.

Organizations large and small in both the public and the private sectors nationwide are supporting their National Guard and Reserve employees by providing everything from encouragement and continued benefits during deployment to care packages and hiring preference.

The top 15 employers are being honored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) with the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in Washington this September. ESGR, a Department of Defense agency, ensures National Guard and Reserve employees' transition from civilian status to active military personnel and back is as smooth as possible by providing free education, consultation and, if necessary, mediation for employers.

Household names Computer Science Corp., DuPont, MGM Mirage and Starbucks are showing there is much heart behind their huge corporations — these companies have internal foundations and institutes devoted to military support and provide donations and scholarships for military employees and their dependents.

Large businesses AgCountry Farm Credit Services, Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America, Baptist Health, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Cardi's Furniture are changing the way organizations support their military personnel. It is common for company leaders to personally send cards, make calls or visit deployed soldiers and their families.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the state of Vermont, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and the Sun Valley General Improvement District are leaders in the public sector that oversee state-supported initiatives, answer requests for supplies from employees overseas and recognize and honor their employees' service from mobilization to welcome-home ceremonies.

Small businesses are usually the least equipped to handle the loss of employees during deployment, yet exceptional organizations such as Colorado's Fred Fletemeyer Co. and North Carolina's Skyline Membership Corp. are showing that size does not matter when it comes to supporting National Guard and Reserve employees.

As this year's honorees have found, employers can expect high-caliber employees when hiring National Guard and Reserve members whose military training has instilled in them values such as efficiency, dedication, punctuality, loyalty and teamwork. These are important considerations when weighing the costs of matching their benefits and pay during activation.

This year's top 15 employers are role models for employers everywhere because of their commitment and regard for the individuals who serve our country both on the job and in uniform.